New Gew98 and Kar98a book project

I wanted to let you all in on a big project of mine I really am considering doing a book on the Gew 98 and Kar 98 series of rifles and carbines from 1898-1919. There has been a reason I have been buying alot of cool pictures and collecting lots of data over the years. It was not just for me to help in my collecting endeavors but for research and notes for a book. I thought about doing a book on just the kar98 carbine and the Gew98 rifle in separate series, in short two separate books. but you can't have one without the other. You need them both to make it flow correctly.

Personally I love the book by Dieter Storz when I purchase it years ago. I have read it many times, it really is a wonderful book and I highly respect the man for doing such a project. But when I read that book. I really sit down and thought about it. That book is missing so many details, to be honest I have gotten more info from fellow collectors and researchers then that book. Reading the K98k series of books have taught me how a book should be: great pictures, great reference guides, lots of information, good quality materials in the book production, and the team effort of gathering info from fellow collectors.

When I complete this book I want it to show more info:

Kar98 and Gew98 production numbers by year and total production
More on barrel and steel production
Sterngewehr info from Erfurt, Spandau, Dresden, Danzig, and Mauser
More on the Suhl Consortium
kornbusch & Co production and more info from this company the Storz book has barely a half page
Gew 98 Navy Contracts
Colonial service info
The Rifle shortage crisis of 1914
More on Depot discussion showing all the numbers for each depot of what they should look like
More on the Radfahrer gewehr
More on 1918 production
War bond rifles
The few 1919 receivers we have reported
And so much more

To do this I will need to buy a new computer and a much better camera but I really think I can take on this project. I am going to talk to Bruce and Mike at the SOS show about what it the best format to use when developing and writing a book. This will not be something I can complete in a year and have no idea how long it will be till it's done after all I run an electric business and raise cattle on a farm for a living. But guys I feel it deep in my heart that I can take on such a project. Right now I'm just going to keep brainstorming ideas, researching, and working on maybe a prototype model. But hopefully one day I will have a complete book! It will just take time to make a good book for future collectors.

Very exciting and I wish you the best!

Very cool! I'd certainly buy it. Let me know if I can help in any way.

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Sign me up as well for a copy! Imperial rifles are long overdue for a good, dedicated reference book, I have the Storz book as well and agree with your review, nice pictures but missing a lot of the details so important to collectors. Unfortunately it’s the only thing out there right now. Good luck on the project, looking forward to seeing it at the end.

Nick

Looking forward to it, definitely need a manufacturer specific book! Let me know if I can be of assistance.

Certainly sounds like a great idea and I believe from your extensive knowledge you would be perfect for such an endeavor. Sounds like it would be a perfect addition to collectors.

Maybe you can kill the myth that the Gew-98 had a .318 groove bore once and for all . Would you even cover any of the ammo development ?

Thank you guys for all your support in this worthy endeavor of mine. I really do hope to make this possible one day right now I'm just going to be brainstorming and researching ideas. Plus gathering up tons of information!

And yes ernie I plan to have a small chapter about ammunition production and accessories, but I want to focus more on this book about the overall rifles and carbines. That is the one thing I see really lacking with Mister Storz book. Reading it is he has well over two hundred plus pages on accessories. But he barely covers two pages per manufacturer. On what their overall production output was, who supplied their materials or what they built in shop. That is what disappointed me on reading about Kornbusch & Co. It's barely half a page. There is some good information on the cost of how much it was to produce a rifle there. But there's hardly any information of how they set the company up where they got their machines, etc. Hell I think the worst thing trying to research out of that book was the Navy contract rifles. I got more information on those rifles from my buddy Mike and Paul than the book.

Sounds like great project. I am looking forward to purchasing a copy. BILL

Book Project

Good luck. Doing a book is a lot of work but there is a great satisfaction at producing something your collector fraternity will use for years! Put me down for a copy also.

I think that if Mike and Bruce's project has taught anything, it is that no one can do such a project alone. An archival study can be done alone or a small circle of colleagues, but a book that is designed to serve collectors requires the collaboration of a great many people. You do have the advantage of Storz's archival study as a guide, which is invaluable for the ammunition and developmental issues (probably the most difficult chapters - even small chapters will be challenging, - I would do it briefly and not comprehensively as the more complex it becomes the more challenging it will be and these are of minimal value to the average collector.)

Anyway, Mike and Bruce would be of tremendous help in understanding the complexity and challenges, the costs and coordination involved, but I hope Jordan can achieve such a goal, - unless you are fluent in German and or capable of digging through archives, making more friends in Germany would be critical for such a project too... though I guess a great deal depends upon how comprehensive your project will be.

Looking forward to having ot in hand! And of course, helping in any way possible. I wish you nothing but success!

I'll help you in any way related to colonial service Gew 98 and K98a area. I have been collecting a lot of data and information on the topic.

I am impressed by your desire to take this project on Jordan. I, like many, look forward to the final product. The only caution I would forward would be this, define your scope from the outset, and do not allow yourself to be swayed by the siren song of scope creep. Lest you end up with an open ended, never ending monster.


KJ

Excellent advice, as a project evolves it can easily get out of control and next thing you know you are so far into the weeds it falls apart. It is natural for projects to expand their scope, such projects are a learning exercise in themselves, but this can really get out of hand and ruin a project (often so discouraging that you give up on it...)

Kammerjaeger said:

I am impressed by your desire to take this project on Jordan. I, like many, look forward to the final product. The only caution I would forward would be this, define your scope from the outset, and do not allow yourself to be swayed by the siren song of scope creep. Lest you end up with an open ended, never ending monster.


KJ

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Book project

Would recommend that you contact Paul regarding your project.
Pretty sure he was in a group that was trying to complete a similar project but dont know what happened there.

Without a major resource pool you are basically dead in the water.
You will need to tap into all available sources to really hit the mark.

Mike and I had Jon Speed, Hans Lockhoven, Stephan Hansen, Paul Shomper and numerous other secondary assets.

Without our team, it would have been nearly impossible to get it right.

Good luck on your endeavor and will be glad to assist in any way.

By the way figure several years at a minimum!

Very cool!

There's not currently a lot available in reference material for Imperial German, it seems to be a much smaller crowd of collectors but even the basic stuff is also a lot rarer. I know from dabbling in collecting Imperial German field gear even some basic essentials are hard to find, for example the spare gas mask pouch to complete a late war mannequin or field gear display is extremely scarce. The same for cavalry y-straps (I am still searching!) the assault specialist grenade bags and shovel (Still hunting for these as well) and other essentials are just so damn tough to find and only in the most advanced collections. In Canada we're lucky to find some really nice WWI items, and I've got a few things in my collection that may help you and I will provide publication quality photos of any of my stuff if you need them.

Cheers,
Steve

It’s a great feeling to decide to write a book. A very smart collector who was in the process of writing a book told me “You can’t write a book by committee.”, meaning solo was the way to go. Since then Bruce and I wrote nearly 2000 pages of books in 3 volumes with 4 full size books by committee. He still hasn’t come out with his 10 years later. My point, do not try to do this alone. You’re going to need help, and if people think you really are going to complete the project they will help. Get a chapter done and show your vision, get people excited and you will receive generous assistance. Also, you won’t make money on it so don’t do it for that ( I know you aren’t) and it’s more work at the end and after than you can imagine, but rewarding. Good luck, Bruce and I will gladly share our experience with you. Don’t expect any free time for about 4 years. It took Bruce and I 2 years to do volume 1 which means 4 years work for a single guy, That was on the heels of Kriegsmodell. Expect a significant dedication to the work. Also, if you aren’t married don’t expect to date much, and if you have a girlfriend give her a kiss and if she’s still there when you are done marry her. If you have a wife, well.........She’ll get over it, mine almost has. Lol.


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You guys are awesome and I appreciate all of your support and thank you for the kind words as well. It will take alot of time and effort for me to see this project completed, but I know in my heart I can do it. I'll just have to stay focused and take on this project one step at a time.

mrfarb said:

If you have a wife, well.........She’ll get over it, mine almost has. Lol.

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Best wishes to you! I have been told by several friends to write a book, but I have just not mustered the will as of yet.

I would STRONGLY encourage you to make primary source documation the heart and sole of your project. Mike and Bruce did an excellent job balancing examples of sample rifles and primary documents.

One of the reasons I am leary about writing anything is the difficulty in finding primary sources. Especially the closer you approach 1900 and before.